Operation of a patient's heart or lungs may be analyzed by transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung, and detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels. Movement of the border is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels. The detected Doppler shifts are processed with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving border with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and the results are then displayed.
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1. A method of evaluating the functionality of a patient's heart or lung, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) calculating P(t)={mean of the power spectrum A(t) in noise region} for each time t={1, 2, . . . N}; (b) defining a threshold ‘thr2’ based on the mean of {P(1), P(2), . . . P(N)}; and (c) reducing P(t′) by raising upper envelope or lowering the lower envelope until P(t′)<=thr2, for each t′ where P(t′)<thr2; and displaying the outputted power and velocity data.
A method analyzes heart or lung function using ultrasound. Ultrasound energy is transmitted into the lung. Doppler shifts are detected from the moving borders between blood vessels and air sacs (alveoli). These movements result from pressure waves in the blood vessels, changing their diameter. The Doppler shifts are processed to enhance the signal from these moving borders relative to other ultrasound signals. The processing involves calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold. The processed power and velocity data are then displayed.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of diagnosing a condition of the patient's heart based on a result of the displaying step.
The method of evaluating heart or lung functionality by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the algorithm comprises calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold; and displaying the processed power and velocity data is further used to diagnose a heart condition based on the displayed results.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of diagnosing a condition of the patient's lung based on a result of the displaying step.
The method of evaluating heart or lung functionality by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the algorithm comprises calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold; and displaying the processed power and velocity data is further used to diagnose a lung condition based on the displayed results.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying an ECG that is aligned in time with the data displayed in the displaying step, using a common time scale.
The method of evaluating heart or lung functionality by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the algorithm comprises calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold; and displaying the processed power and velocity data also includes displaying an ECG synchronized in time with the ultrasound data using a common timescale.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing step implements a Chan-Vese algorithm.
The method of evaluating heart or lung functionality by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with an algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the algorithm comprises calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold; and displaying the processed power and velocity data uses a Chan-Vese algorithm for the signal processing step.
6. A method of evaluating the functionality of a patient's heart or lung, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung for a period of time that corresponds to at least one cardiac cycle; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with at least one noise reduction algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein at least one noise reduction algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) calculating P(t)={mean of the power spectrum A(t) in noise region} for each time t={1, 2, . . . N}; (b) defining a threshold ‘thr2’ based on the mean of {P(1), P(2), . . . P(N)}; and (c) reducing P(t′) by raising upper envelope or lowering the lower envelope until P(t′)<=thr2, for each t′ where P(t′)<thr2; displaying, on a display, the processed power and velocity data for the period of time; and correlating an abnormality in at least one of (a) a feature on the display that corresponds to systolic ventricular contraction, (b) a feature on the display that corresponds to ventricular relaxation, (c) a feature on the display that corresponds to a diastolic rapid filling phase, (d) a feature on the display that corresponds to diastasis, and (e) a feature on the display that corresponds to atrial contraction with an abnormal condition of the patient's heart or lung.
A method analyzes heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle. Ultrasound energy is transmitted into the patient's lung. Doppler shifts are detected from the moving borders between blood vessels and air sacs (alveoli), driven by pressure waves in the blood vessels that cause diameter changes. Doppler shifts are processed using noise reduction algorithm(s) to enhance the signal from these moving borders. The noise reduction involves calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold. The processed power and velocity data are displayed, and abnormalities are correlated with heart or lung conditions by checking key features: systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the abnormality is that at least one of the features is absent.
In the method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), the abnormality detected is the absence of one or more of the key features on the display.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the abnormality is the presence of a feature that corresponds to extra-systole.
In the method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), the abnormality detected is the presence of an extra-systole feature.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the abnormality is that at least one of the features occurs at an incorrect time.
In the method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), the abnormality detected is one or more of the key features appearing at an incorrect time.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of displaying an ECG that is aligned in time with the data displayed in the displaying step, using a common time scale.
The method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), further comprises displaying a synchronized ECG alongside the ultrasound data using a common timescale.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one noise reduction algorithm further comprises the step of implementing a Chan-Vese algorithm.
In the method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using at least one noise reduction algorithm (including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum); displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), the noise reduction algorithm also uses a Chan-Vese algorithm.
12. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of averaging the ultrasound power and velocity data for a plurality of cardiac cycles, wherein the averaging step is performed prior to the displaying step.
The method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; displaying the processed power and velocity data and correlating abnormalities with heart or lung conditions by checking key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction), also includes averaging the ultrasound power and velocity data across multiple cardiac cycles before displaying the data.
13. A method of evaluating the functionality of a patient's heart or lung, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung for a period of time that corresponds to at least one cardiac cycle; detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels, wherein movement of the borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels; processing the detected Doppler shifts with at least one noise reduction algorithm designed to increase signal from the moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels with respect to other reflected ultrasound signals and outputting processed power and velocity data; wherein the at least one noise reduction algorithm comprises the steps of: (a) calculating P(t)={mean of the power spectrum A(t) in noise region} for each time t={1, 2, . . . N}; (b) defining a threshold ‘thr2’ based on the mean of {P(1), P(2), . . . P(N)}; and (c) reducing P(t′) by raising upper envelope or lowering the lower envelope until P(t′)<=thr2, for each t′ where P(t′)<thr2; checking for abnormalities in (a) a feature of the processed power and velocity data that corresponds to systolic ventricular contraction, (b) a feature of the processed power and velocity data that corresponds to ventricular relaxation, (c) a feature of the processed power and velocity data that corresponds to a diastolic rapid filling phase, (d) a feature of the processed power and velocity data that corresponds to diastasis, and (e) a feature of the processed power and velocity data that corresponds to atrial contraction; and correlating an absence of abnormalities in the checking step with a normal condition of the patient's heart or lung.
A method analyzes heart or lung function using ultrasound acquired over at least one cardiac cycle. Ultrasound energy is transmitted into the patient's lung. Doppler shifts are detected from the moving borders between blood vessels and air sacs, driven by pressure waves. The Doppler shifts are processed using noise reduction algorithm(s) to enhance the signal from these moving borders. The noise reduction involves calculating a noise power level P(t) for each time point, defining a threshold based on the mean of P(t) values, and then reducing the power spectrum at each time point until it's below the threshold. Checks are done to verify correct (a) systolic ventricular contraction, (b) ventricular relaxation, (c) diastolic rapid filling, (d) diastasis, and (e) atrial contraction, correlating absence of abnormalities with normal function.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of displaying an ECG that is aligned in time with the data displayed in the displaying step, using a common time scale.
The method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; checking for abnormalities in key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction) and correlating the *absence* of abnormalities with a normal condition, further comprises displaying a synchronized ECG alongside the ultrasound data using a common timescale.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one noise reduction algorithm further comprises the step of implementing a Chan-Vese algorithm.
In the method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using at least one noise reduction algorithm (including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum); checking for abnormalities in key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction) and correlating the *absence* of abnormalities with a normal condition, the noise reduction algorithm also uses a Chan-Vese algorithm.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the step of averaging the ultrasound power and velocity data for a plurality of cardiac cycles, wherein the averaging step is performed prior to the displaying step.
The method of evaluating heart or lung function using ultrasound data acquired over at least one cardiac cycle by transmitting ultrasound into the patient's lung; detecting Doppler shifts; processing the Doppler shifts using a noise reduction algorithm including calculating a noise power level P(t), defining a threshold, and reducing the power spectrum; checking for abnormalities in key features (systolic ventricular contraction, ventricular relaxation, diastolic rapid filling, diastasis, and atrial contraction) and correlating the *absence* of abnormalities with a normal condition, also includes averaging the ultrasound power and velocity data across multiple cardiac cycles before checking for abnormalities.
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October 27, 2010
August 8, 2017
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